The next morning, Sophie and Leonard arrived at the quiet cemetery, where a light mist still hung in the air. Rows of grey tombstones covered the hillside, and the stillness felt peaceful, almost sacred.
Sophie gently held Leonard's hand as they walked, slowing down near a simple, well-tended grave beneath a blooming cherry tree. She knelt down and placed a bouquet of lilies and white chrysanthemums in front of the headstone, her fingers brushing the petals.
"Mom," she whispered, her voice soft and full of emotion, "I'm married now. And I brought my husband with me today."
Her words lingered in the air, fragile and full of meaning.
Beside her, Leonard stood quietly, not smiling for once, his head bowed with respect.
"Mom," he said softly, almost shyly, as if truly speaking to someone he now saw as family.
Together, they cleaned the grave—Sophie gently wiping off the dust while Leonard brushed away fallen petals and leaves. He moved slowly and carefully, sensing how important this was to her.
"My mom loved the cherry trees. Said they reminded her that life is short… but still beautiful.," she said softly, her voice carried by the breeze. "
Leonard looked down at her, listening closely.
"She was kind. Strong, too," Sophie continued, her gaze on the road ahead. "She always made me feel like I mattered, even when I was just the illegitimate daughter who didn't stand out."
Leonard's grip on her arm tightened a little. "Sophie is very special," he said simply.
Sophie smiled, touched by his words. "Thanks, Leonard. I think… if she were still here, she would've liked you."
He brightened a little. "Really?"
She nodded. "She liked gentle hearts. And you… you have the gentlest one I've ever known."
Leonard's face lit up with pride. "Then Leonard will be good to Sophie, always. For Mom, too."
Sophie blinked back a sting of tears, then leaned her head against his shoulder. "I know you will."
Once the visit was over, they walked toward the cemetery entrance to wait for their driver. Sophie leaned against Leonard's side, her hand tucked through his arm,
But suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Sophie caught a flicker of movement. Her gaze snapped to the road just in time to see a black car hurtling toward them, its tires screeching slightly as it tore across the otherwise empty path.
Her heart dropped. It wasn't just speeding—it was aimed. Directly at them. More specifically, at Leonard.
There was no mistaking it. The car wasn't swerving. It wasn't slowing down. It was coming fast, with a cold, terrifying precision that sent a chill down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat and without a second's hesitation, Sophie reacted purely on instinct. "Leonard!" she shouted, shoving him with all the strength in her body. He stumbled back, falling out of harm's way, just as the car veered directly toward where he had been standing. And now with the car straight at her.
"NO!" Leonard's scream rang out.
BANG!
The collision flung Sophie into the air, her body spinning before crashing down hard onto the pavement with a painful thud.
"SOPHIE!" Leonard screamed, his voice raw with panic. For a second, he stood frozen in shock, his face drained of color, until instinct kicked in and he rushed to her side. Blood was already pooling beneath her head, staining the ground a dark, terrifying red. Her dress soaked it up quickly, her body frighteningly still.
Leonard dropped to his knees, hands trembling as he fumbled for his phone. His fingers slipped over the screen again and again before he finally managed to call for help. "She's bleeding—she's not moving!" he cried into the phone, his voice breaking. The moment the call ended, he threw the phone aside and clutched Sophie's hand in both of his, tears streaming down his face. "The ambulance is coming! Sophie, please… stay with me!" he begged, gently brushing the blood-streaked hair from her face. Her eyes stayed closed. Her lips were pale. Her chest barely moved.
Leonard's breathing grew shallow, his chest tight with fear. All he could do was hold on to her, whisper her name over and over again, and pray she would respond. The minutes felt endless.
Then came the sirens—loud, sharp, cutting through the silence like hope. The ambulance skidded to a stop nearby and the paramedics rushed out. They surrounded Sophie, checking her vitals, working quickly. Leonard moved back only when they forced him to, his hands stained with her blood, his heart numb with fear. They lifted her onto a stretcher, stabilizing her as best they could—but she still didn't wake up.
Leonard climbed into the ambulance beside her, refusing to let go of her hand. His whole body trembled as he stared at her pale, unmoving face. Guilt and terror swirled inside him—he knew. She had pushed him out of the way. She had saved his life.
Now, she was the one fighting to stay alive.
He leaned close, gripping her hand as if afraid she'd slip away if he loosened his hold even for a second. "Please, Sophie," he whispered, voice breaking. "Don't leave me…"
At the hospital, after hours of emergency treatment, scans, and a tense wait, the doctor finally came out with an update—Sophie was no longer in critical condition, but she was still in a coma. Her vitals had stabilized, the internal bleeding had been stopped, but her condition remained uncertain.
Leonard sat silently at her bedside, gripping her hand tightly, completely still. The childlike innocent that once colored his expression had vanished. What remained was a cold, piercing calm that spoke of quiet fury and resolve.. His eyes stayed locked on Sophie's pale face, but in his mind, he was already piecing everything together. This wasn't an accident. It had been planned. He knew it the moment the car came speeding toward them—too fast, too exact, too targeted to be a coincidence.
Even before Sophie was wheeled into the ER, Leonard had sent a message to his assistant, instructing him to gather all surveillance footage, witness reports, and traffic data—and to make sure the police had it on record. But deep down, Leonard already knew who was behind it: his uncle.
The same uncle who had smiled at him across dining tables while secretly plotting his downfall. Rumors had been swirling—his uncle's investments had collapsed, costing him billions. Just days ago, he'd tried to trick Leonard into signing over control of the company under the excuse of a "restructure." Leonard had declined with a calm smile, pretending to be the same naive heir everyone underestimated—while making sure the contract was useless.
He had expected backlash—maybe a smear campaign or legal traps. But not this. Not attempted murder. And now, Sophie—the one person who had protected him without hesitation—was the one paying the price.
His jaw clenched. His free hand curled into a fist. The guilt was heavy.
He leaned in, gently brushing a strand of hair from Sophie's face. His voice dropped to a whisper, cold and firm. "You saved me. Now it's my turn to protect you. I'll make them pay for this."
He stood up slowly, eyes sharp with purpose. If he wanted to keep Sophie safe,he would start by taking down the man who dared to harm him and his wife.
******
Not long after, Madam Yan and Grandfather Yan arrived at the hospital, their faces tight with worry. The quiet halls echoed with their rushed footsteps as they made their way to Sophie's room. When they stepped inside and saw Leonard sitting silently at her bedside, their hearts sank. His usual bright, carefree smile was gone. In its place was a heavy stillness and grief that made him look like a different person entirely. The innocent spark in his eyes had faded, replaced by something deeper—sorrow and quiet rage.
"Leonard, are you hurt?" Madam Yan asked softly, hurrying to his side. Her hands gently touched his arms and shoulders, checking him for injuries with the instinct of a concerned mother.
Leonard shook his head, eyes never leaving Sophie. "I'm fine… but Sophie—she saved me," he said, his voice low and thick with emotion.
Madam Yan's eyes welled with tears as she looked at Sophie, pale and still in the hospital bed. She reached out and held Sophie's hand gently, then turned back to her son. "What did the doctor say?"
Leonard's jaw tightened. He gripped Sophie's hand more firmly. "She's stable now… but still in a coma," he murmured.
Grandfather Yan stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Leonard's shoulder. His voice was calm but firm. "Don't give up hope. Sophie is strong. Heaven won't turn away someone with a heart like hers. She'll come back."
Madam Yan let out a long breath, her eyes never leaving Sophie. Then she looked at Leonard again. "You've been here all day. We'll have someone watch over her tonight. You should rest."
But Leonard shook his head at once. "No. I'm staying."
"Leonard—" she tried again, gently.
"I won't leave until she wakes up," he said, his voice quiet but resolute.
Madam Yan and Grandfather Yan exchanged a look. At that moment, they saw something had changed. It was in Leonard's eyes, in the way he sat protectively by Sophie's side, and in how he refused to let go of her hand.